The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-05
WOMEN RULING A CITY,
AND DOING BETTER WORK THAN
The MEN
Whom 1'heJ Succeeded IN OfIice-An
Encouragement for the sui.
fragists Everywhere.
I.Oa.asros..s@ ., RE ArrrAL.l


SALIVA, KAs.-I have just return
cd from trip on the Santa Fe road
west. Syracuse sixteen miles from
the Colorado line, was the Mecca Of
my pilgrimage, because here, April
4th, they elected a'City Council Of
women, and | was bent upon seeing
the town that had made this innova-
tion, and the women who were filing
the council chairs. / wanted 70 ask
the people how it came about and
how it was working. The first OF
these ladies introduced 10 me was
Mrs. 4. B. Barbour, q fair faced,
gentle hammered woman, with an un-
mistakable air of business about her.
| found this accounted for by the
fact that she is a business woman.
Her husband does q large and com
plicated business the books are en-
tirely in her charge. Mrs. II. D..
Mott is a business woman, too. |
expect much of Mrs. Mott in the
management of their Suffrage Soei-
ETY., because OF her experience in
Iowa as president of the Eighth
District Woman Suffrage Society.
Mrs. Corgeshall says they were very
sorry to lose Mrs. Mott from
their ranks. She is chairman
of the Syracuse aldermanic force.
Mrs. Nj. M. Riggles is a quiet little
woman, a careful aud conscientious
mother and housewife. She has a
way OF making up her mind for her
self and standing firmly by her con-
victions. She has a reputation
among Syracuse male citizens for be-
ing a person of excellent judgment.
Mrs. s. n. Coe is woman of excel
lent ability, with enough eonser-
vatism to keep her enthusiasm in
proper check. No one Of these wom-
en- is more anxious TO do exactly
right than is Mrs. Coe. She is sister
to Mrs. Lemert, president Of the
Saxon Equal Suffrage Society, organ
iIed at Dodge City by Mrs. Saxon,
and named for her. She has several
such namesakss in Kansas. Mrs. l..
M. Swartwood, the fifth member, |
did not see, although l made an Of
fort to do so. She was confined 10
her home by sickness; but l am told
that she is q woman of ability and by
no means behind her sisters in any
requisite for her position. Ny short
acquaintance with these women con-
WINGED me that sitting in council
chairs and wrestling with questions
Of city polity has had no effect to un-
sex them-whstsver that may be-
for these were as womanly women as
| have ever seen. l looked in vain
for masculine tendencies. There
was not a hint Of it in dress
or manner. Meeting them on
the street or in the ears, you would
never guess that they were city
officials. From conversation with
them / learned that they were ex-
ceediDgly anxious to make their ad-
ministration just one-one that
would advance the best interests of
the city; and when they spoke Of
advancing the interests OF their city
they betrayed the fact that they had
in mind the city's moral as well as
temporal prosperity. 1t is said of
them that they are doing better
work than the body of men who
composed the previous Council.
Their townspeople say they were
elected because somebody proposed
it, and everybody was pleased with
the idea; because ut was believed
they would make excellent officers"
because the temperance people
thought women wouldn't be afraid to
enforce the prohibitory law" be-
cause I'VE wanted to advertise our
town, this last from a member OF
a real estate firm; because women
would take time to do the work well
and thoughtfully." Altogether, /
was pleased with my first sight Of a
woman Council. This is the only
one in the United States.
LAURA M. JOHNS,